Igniter for internal-combustion engines.



M, P. RYDER,

IGNITEE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED OOT.20,1909.

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RTTO RNEVE M; P. RYDER IGNITEE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 1909.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

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isa/7 C LOIJR P Rydcn MALCOLM P. RYDER, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IGNITER FOR I NTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed October 20, 1909. Serial No. 523,680.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALCOLM P. RYDER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Igniters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for generating and, controlling or timing and'distributingan electric spark and is particularly useful as an igniter for igniting the charge in an internal combustion engine.

My invention relates, among other things, to the timer portion of the apparatus and consists essentially of .a rotary cam so constructed that the mere axial adjustment of the same on a shaft shall serve to advance or retard the spark. In the preferred form of my invention said cam is also utilized as a part of the devices for generating the spark.

Another portion of my invention relates to improved means for generating the spark by disturbing the magnetic flux ofv a coil 'throughthe action of a rotary cam. This part of my invention is designed more particularly as an improvement upon that class of generators in which the reciprocating movement of an armature or massof iron is utilized to produce the changes of magnetic flux through the coil and in which the reciprocating movement is produced by the combined action of a rotating cam and a spring acting preferably through the intervention of a hammer, as described in my prior United States Patent No. 814:,083,

dated March 6th, 1906. 1

The object of this part of my invention is to secure a simple and effective organization or construction in which one armature shall act to interrupt the fiux in cooperation with another armature which shunts the flux from the coils.

Another object is to afford ready means for timing the action of the device which produces the change of flux and generation of the sparking current. This part of my invention consists among other things, in the use of a cam having a spirally cut step and shiftable axially, as more particularly hereinafter described and claimed. This portion of my invention also embraces combinations of devices and details of construc- 'rotation of the shaft.

tion more particularly set forth in the claims.

Another object of my invention is to produce a device capable of producing a spark by a simple-movement of the spark lever before the engine has begun to rotate at all and thus allow the starting of the engine from the seat in exactly the same manner as has heretofore been done by means of the regular battery and spark coil outfit.

By means of my invention I am able to provide a device that successfully takes the place of both the ordinary magneto and battery, and retains all the advantages of both. Thls portion of my invention as well as other features of the same, will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then specified in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the center of the generating portion of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the distributer. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation ofa portion of the distributor and shows the sleeve holding the contact plunger in longitudinal vertical secblOIl.

Referring to the drawings. 1 is the cam shaft of the igniter mounted in suitable bearings in the casing 2 and driven positively from the engine by means of gearing or other suitable means that will cause it to rotate positively insynchronism with the engine and at the same speed as the engine crank shaft or other portion of the apparatus that may be found convenient in the application of the device to engines having different numbers of" cylinders.

3 indicates a throw cam of hardened steel positively driven in the forward direction by the shaft 1, but free to slide lengthwise thereon for the purposes to be more particularly hereinafter described.

4.- is a shift rod connected to a shifter fork 5, which'latter engages the grooved collar 6 connected to the collar 8, to permit the cam to be shifted axially during the The driving connection between the shaft and cam consists preferably of a ratchet key 7 that causes the cam to rotate positively in the forward direction, but releases the cam if the shaft 1 gether.

should rotate backwardunder the influence of a back kick from the engine. Riding on the cam isa bar or rod 8 which operates on the devices for producing changes in the magnetic flux through the generator coil. Preferably, said bar operates as ahammer bar in a manner to be-presently set forth. Said bar passes upward through the center of the machine and plays between two armatures 9 and 10, loosely mounted upon it.

The bar '8 is formed with shoulders at its opposite ends and the-reduced portions of the bar enter bushings carrying the armatures. The shoulders engage the armatures for the purpose of detaching them from the core andthe reduced lower end of the bar passes through one armature to engage the operating cam. Each of the armatures consists of a number of sheets of soft iron built up into a solid block and closely fitted to a bronze or other suitable bushing 11, which slides freely on the squared end of the rod or bar 8. Spiral springs 12 that maybe simply-hooked over the ends of lightsteel yokes attached to the backs of'the armatures connect and tend to draw them to- The rod or bar 8 is free to slide under the influence of the cam and springs, in bearings milled in the casting 13, which forms the frame of the machine and supports the cores, coils, pole-pieces and magnets. Between the ends of the armatures are two stationary cores 14, each built up of a number of sheets of soft iron and firmly bolted to the frame. Each core is surrounded by a coil of insulated copper wire in which the sparking current is generated, said coils being wound on a vulcanized fiber or other spool. In magnetic contact with the cores near their'upper ends are castiron pole-pieces 15, which are also firmly bolted to theframe and serve to make magnetic connection between the cores and the hardened steel magnets 16, which are placed on the extreme top of the machine. The mode of operation of this generator portion of the igniter is as follows:As the cam rotates, one of itshigh parts passes under the lower end of bar 8 and forces it upward. As the bar rises, two shoulders on its sides near the upper end come in contact with. the under side of the top armature 10 and thus force the armature to rise also. As the bottom armature at this time is in contact with the lower ends of the cores,and the springs which connect the armatures have. a tendency to draw them together, the upward motion of the armaturebar and upper armature is opposed by the pull of the springs, and the springs at the same time hold the bottom armature in close contact with the lower ends of the cores. With the parts in this position, there is a free path (without any air gaps or other hindrances) for the magnetic lines from the permanent no battery, and no \pole magnets to flow down from the north any of the magnetic lines because it is separated from the cores by air gaps of considerable width'and consequently it is many times easier for the magnetic lines to follow the path above described. As the cam con-. tinues to rotate, its point or shoulder passes clear of the bar and suddenly releases it. The tension of the springs pulling d0wnward on the upper armature nowcauses the upper armature and the armature bar to move downward very rapidly until the motion of the upper armature is arrested by coming in contact with the cores. At this instant, the shoplders on the bar near its lower end strike the top of the bottom armature (which has remained stationary during the movement of the top armature) and a further movement of the armature bar, due to its momentum, carries the lower armature with it and-away from the cores. The result of the combined action of the two armatures is'that the magnetic circuit which previously existed through the portions of the cores which are surrounded by the coils is suddenly broken, and at the same time a shunt path for the magnetic lines is provided through the upper armature and the small portions of the cores that project above the pole-pieces; In this manner the magnetic flux through the portions of the cores that are surrounded by the coils is quickly and effectively reduced from max- 105 lmum to zero and a single impulse of electro-motive-force generated in the coils which causes a spark of great intensity to flow through the distributer and wireto the plug in the cylinder that is ready to fire. This action takes place twice during each revolution of the cam in the standard fourcylinder machine and is comparable to that which takes placein an induction coil when the magnetic flux through its core is suddenly interrupted by the breaking of its primary circuit at the vibrator contact. In

this case, of course, there is no primary coil,

vibrator, but the functions of these parts are performed by the permanent magnets and the armatures.

The intensity of the spark is dependent upon the quickness with which the armatures interrupt the magnetic flux through the coils after the armature bar has been released byfthe'cam and as this in turn is'dependent only on the strength of the springs,

down throughth'e core to it is evident that the speed of rotation of the" cam has nothing whatever to do with'the strength of the spark, and in consequence a incense first movement of the engine, and starting on the armature 9 the engine by the crank is just as easy and certain as with any battery and coil System. Also for the same reason, the control of the engine speed is much more flexible than it could possibly be on any magneto. It thus becomes possible with a good carburetor to run an ordinary four-cylinder car on the high gear from three miles per hour to the maximum speed of which the car is capable, without missing an explosion. in other words, the minimum speed at which the engine will run is limited only. by its ability to draw in sufficient gas to produce an explosion. In hill climbing, when the engine is slowed down by overload, it will continue to exert its maximum torque as long as it is able to turn over and move the car. With magneto ignition, it would of course be necessary to change gears long before the car has slowed down to its minimum speed in order to avoid stalling the engine. lhis ability to run at very slow engine speed withoutdanger of stalling the engine, will often allow a hill to be taken on high gear that could not be taken on high gear with ordinary magneto ignition. This feature is also extremely valuable in handling a car in crowded traffic as there is no danger of stalling the engine as long as it can turn over (no matter how slowly).

The peculiarity in the construction of the cam which gives it the function of an adjustable timer will now be described: As shown in the figures, the shoulder of the cam is cut on a spiral around the axis on which the cam turns and inasmuch as the position of the shoulder of the cam where it engages the rod 8 determines the instant of spark,

and inasmuch as the cam is slidably mounted on its shaft, it is obvious that by shifting it endwise to change the position of the spiral shoulder with relation to the device which causes the flow of ignition spark, the range of timing thus produced may be made anything that is required to give the most complete control of the engine. When said cam operates in conjunction with devices for generating the spark by sudden changes of flux produced by releasing the bar 8, it is obvious that the adjustment for timing said spark may be effected without in the least affecting the strength of the spark. The adjustment axially of the cam is produced by means of the shifter rod 4 operated in any usual way by connection with a spark lever; said lever then serves not only to control the timing of the spark but to shut it ofi to stop the engine.

In order to utilize the generator as a means for producing the first spark for starting the engine from the seat, without rotating the cam, l employ a device acting independently of the action of cam 3 and brought into operation to produce such initial spark in any desired way. Preferably Ilutilize the means which control the timing of the spark to shut off the spark and stop the engine, as the means for. controlling the operation of the device that produces the initial spark for starting the engine fromthe seat. A convenient way of bringing the armature into operation for producing the initial spark is to provide an attachment to the rod 4 or parts operated thereby which, when the cam 3 is moved over or a little beyond the position of extreme retard, will slide under the end of the bar 8 when lifted by the cam to its extreme position, where the bar will be held until re leased to product the initial spark. Such device temporarily holding the armature lifted may consist of circular ring or collar 18 which may be one edge of the shifting collar 6' at the end of the cam 3. While the engine is running, if the cam is pushed over a little beyond the position of extreme retard (in other words when the shifter rod is pushed all the way in) the circular collar 18, which has the same radius as the highest points of the cam, slides under the end of the armature bar the next time the cam lifts the bar to its uppermost position.

As the collar is circular, it holds the armature bar in this position and thus effectively shuts 0d the spark and does away with the necessity for a switch for this purpose. Now, after the engine has stopped, and the cam shaft is at rest, if the spark lever is moved slightly toward the advanced position, the collar is pulled from under the armature bar, and as the low part of the camis now in line with.the bar (assuming of course that the engine has stopped with the pistons at or near the middle of their stroke without which it would be impossible to start on the spark with any kind of ignition) the bar now drops, under the influence of the springs, and produces a spark of exactly the same intensity as though the engine were running. This spark is directed to the proper cylinder by the distributer, which has extra long contacts for this purpose, and if the cylinder contains gas under compression, an explosion follows, and the engine starts. The spark lever is then manipulated in the usual manner to time the spark according to the speed and needs of the engine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that by the use of a spiral timing cam in a manner to produce the ignition spark by the drop of the controlling device off the shoulder of the cam instead of by the lifting of the controlling device, the entire control of the engine both for timing the spark and for stopping and starting the same becomes practical through the longitudinal movement of the cam shaft continued near extremity of the movement for timing suflino sparks will be produced. It isthe fore-1 going difference in 'the manner of use of the cam which distinguishes my invention from previous uses of the spiral cam for timing the spark and in which the spark is produced on the lift.

The distributer for directing the spark to the, proper cylinder is preferably constructed as follows; and if the igniter be used with a regular four-cylinder engine, is mounted on a separate shaft 19 driven from the shaft 1, by a reducing gear, at a two to one ratio. Mounted on this shaft and thoroughly insulated therefrom is a haridened steel sleeve 20 carrying two hardened steel vanes or segments-21. In the center of the hard rubber cover 22 of the distributer is a tubular piece of hardened steel 23, on top of which is a connecting screw and nut and inside of which is a hardened steel spring-pressed plunger, the lower end of which 24 bears upon the revolving sleeve above mentioned and thus carries the current into the sleeve and its attached vanes. Also mounted on the distributer cover are four contact carriers 25 which carry hardened steel spring-pressed plungers 26, so arranged that, as the vanes revolve, they make firm metallic plungersin succession at the proper time to direct the spark to the proper cylinder. Connection may be carriers to the spark plug wires by means of plugs adapted to suitably engage the ends of the bolts which hold the contact carrier's to the hard rubber cover. The bottom of the distributer case is filled with oil to such a depth that the vanes dip in it at each revolution and thus keep all the working parts copiously lubricated. It. Will be noted that there are no air gaps for the current to jump across in this distributer, but that there are solid metallic connections everywhere. Also that all wearing surfaces are hardened steel and all are thoroughly lubricated.

Heretofore the practicehas been in that class of distributers having revolving vanes to locate the stationary contact a short distance away from the path of the vane so that the spark has to jump across the intervening space. In other words, the vane does not actually touch the contact, whereas in the present case it positively engages the same and eliminates thereby the tendency to roughening of conducting surfaces and deective connection which is necessarily present in the previous forms of distributer referred to.

In Fig. 5 is shown a detail of construction of the spring-pressed contact plunger which is used for those contact plungers engaged masses contact with each of themade from the contact by the vanes and also'for the contact plunger 24 which continuously engages the coning pressed outward by the action of thespring'31when the vane passes, so as to be in position for reengagement by the vane. In this construction there is, in the absence of special provision to avoid the diiliculty, a tendency for the plunger to be retarded in its return movement after being pressed in by the distributer vane and due to the fact that the oil seals up the slight opening around the plunger, thereby preventing the free movement in and out of the air in the space contained back of the plunger, as it reciprocates; in other words. the-action will be similar to that of a dash pot and this dash pot effect will interfere with the action of the distributer at high speed because when the distributer vanecomes in contact with the plunger the sudden blow w ill force the plunger back a considerable distance and it will not return to position for contact with the distributer vane until after the spark has occurred, so that the spark will be forced to jump an air gap. This difficulty I overcome by the provision of a vent hole or holes back of the plunger, as indicated at 32, where a small'opening is shown drilled in the cap nut 33. Such opening or openings allows the air free entrance and exit and leaves the plunger perfectly free to move in and out under the influence of the distributer vane and the spring.

The current is led to the distributer from inside the generator case by meansof a thumb screw 28 carrying a spring-pressed plunger, which connects to a metal plate on the side of one of the coils. The winding of the coils is soldered to the metal'plate before the covering of tape is put on the coils, and the plate is then taped into and becomes a part of the coils. Similar means may be employed for connecting the coils from the two spools to one another and for making a ground connection from the second coil to the base of the machine. In this manner all exposed wires are avoided and all danger of breakage eliminated.

The oilingof the igniter is taken care of in a very effective manner by what maywbe termed a splash.system. The base 2 of the machine contains oil to such a height tha the cam continually dips in it and the cam in turn distributes it to all the other wearing parts. The upper portion of the igniter Under this construction the plunger,

measles is completely inclosed by a cast aluminum cover which is firmly screwed to the base on top of a fiber gasket. This cover in connection "with the base casting, makesan oiltight and moisture-tight casing for the igniter proper and the distributer is just as completely inclosed by its aluminum case and hard rubber cover.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an apparatus of the character vdescribed, the combination of generating coils, a source of magnetic flux, a.reciprocating armature acting to alternately complete and interrupt the magnetic circuit of said source through the coils, a reciprocating armature acting to alternately complete and interrupt a shunt for the flow of magnetic lines of force around the coils and cooperating with the first-named armature in generating current by completing the shunt when said first-named armature interrupts the magnetic circuit, a reciprocating rod playing between said armatures and engaging and reciprocating the same, an actuating cam for said rod and a spring connected at its opposite ends to said armatures and tending to draw them together.

2; In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a source of magnetic flux, two armatures cotiperating with one another to t ary 'a flux derived :tromsaid source, one of said armatures acting to alternately complete and interrupt the magnetic circuit and the other to alternately complete 'and interrupt a shunt thereof, a spring connected at its opposite ends to said armatures and tending to draw the same toward one another, an actuating rod interposed between said 'armatures and engaged at its opposite ends respectivelyby said armatures'directly, said rod having reduced ends entering openings in the armatures, one of said reduced ends extending through the armature and an actuating cam engaged by the latter reduced end of said rod.

3. In an apparatus of the character de-- scribed, the combination of two reciprocating armatures, an actuating rod playing between the same and adapted to engage said armatures alternately by its ends, a cam for alternately raising the rod and abruptly releasingit and a tension spring connected at its opposite ends to said armatures respectively and tending to draw the same together.

l. in an apparatus for generating and timing an electrical spark, the combination of a reciprocating magnetic fiuxyarying armature, a hammer operating on said armature, a cam having a spiral shoulder for alternately lifting and releasing the hammer by escape past the edge of the cam thereby producing the spark, means forrotating said cam, means for shifting the cam in the direction of its axis to vary the time of production of the spark by varying the time of escape of the hammer from the shoulder of the cam'and means adjustable withthe cam for holding the spark producing devices out of action at one extreme of the axial adjustment for timing the spark.

The combination of a generating coil, a source of magnetic flux, a reciprocating armature for alternately completing and interrupting the magnetic circuit of said source a source of magnetic flux, a reciprocating armature for producing disturbance of the flux from said source through the coil, an operating cam adapted to alternately lift and release the armature, said cam having a spirally cut shoulder and being axially adjustable to time the spark produced in said coil by disturbance of-the magnetic flux, and a collar carried by said cam and axially adjustable therewith for holding the armature in the position to which it is lifted by the cam and for releasing it independently of the cam to start the engine.

7. The combination of a spark generating coil, a source of magnetic flux, an armature for completing the magnetic circuit of said source through the coil, a hammer acting on the armature in one direction and a spring operating on said armature in the reverse direction, a cam for alternately lifting and releasing said hammer and having a spirally cut shoulder, said cam being axially adjustable to time the spark, and means for holding the hammer out or" action upon a full shift of the cam axially.

8. The combination of a spark generating coil, a rotary cam, means actuated thereby for producing intermittent disturbances of the magnetic circuit of said source through the coil, said cam having a spirally cut shoulder and being axially adjustable for the purpose of timing the spark, and means independent of the cam "for producing disturbance, of ma enetic circuit of said flux and normally standing in inoperative position,

and means for shifting the same to operative position when the cam is thrown beyond its normal range of adjustment for timing the spark.

9. The combination of a generating coil, a source of magnetic flux, a reciprocating mechanism for producing intermittent disturbances of the magnetic flux of said source in said coil, a rotary cam having a spirally cut shoulder for operating said reciprocating mechanism and adjustable axially on its shaft to time the production of the disturbance, and means adjustable with the cam for holding said reciprocating mechanism out of action when free from the action of the cam and releasing it to produce an initial disturbance and initial spark without rotation of the cam.

10. In an apparatus for generating and timing an electrical spark, the combination with a spirally cut cam and means for producing a spark by escape past the shoulder of the cam, saidcam beingaxially adjustable to time the production of the spark, of I a ring or collar at the extremity of the cam and adjustable axially with the cam to hold the spark. producing devices out of action spark producing devices out of action upon full shift of the cam axially.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 19th day of October, A. D. 1909.

MALCOLM P. RYDER.

Witnesses: IRENE LEFKOWITZ, EDWARD M. JELLINEK. 

